Marooned
by: justjames17
(Copyright 2005 -2007 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...
 

Chapter 48

The drive up the coast was a pleasant diversion; they visited the tiny National Trust town of Tilba Tilba with its quaint old buildings and tiny hotel where they had a lunch. They visited the cheese factory where they sampled a wide and tasty variety of different types before purchasing some smoked cheese. They toured Bermagui and Narooma before setting off back towards Eden, the sun was low and everyone was feeling tired when they saw a timber truck approaching from the other direction around a bend. They neared it and suddenly a 4wd towing a large offshore aluminium boat pulled out from behind the truck heading straight for them, Wayne screamed, "Look out!"

Brian wrenched the wheel stamping on the brakes causing the Tarago to slew crazily up on two wheels, the 4wd slammed on its brakes tyres howling as it jack knifed and hit the side of the truck's jinka, the Range Rover crumpled, wrapping around the heavy trailer as the boat and trailer broke free careering across the highway in front of the Tarago before slewing up the hill on the road side its momentum taking it out of the Toyota's path. The rear driver's side of the skidding Tarago hit the pinned 4wd and it crashed back on 4 wheels before flipping over and rolling over and over down the road, pieces of plastic and shattered glass flying through the dust cloud.

The Tarago finished on its side, wheels still spinning as the dust settled and the truck pulled up, Brian and the lads all had on their seat belts saving their lives and although badly bruised and shaken they all hung in their seats in a shocked state. The truck driver climbed down from his cab after calling for the police and an ambulance on the CB radio, he hurried to the crumpled 4wd and peered in through the shattered windscreen, he turned away and vomited on the road after seeing the mess inside.

Wayne was suspended above Brian and he groaned as the seat belt pressed into his sore chest and stomach, he groaned out, "Is everyone ok?"

Brian still in shock looked up at him and nodded as the boys in the back called out that they were ok. The truckie arrived at the Tarago and looked in the hole where the Tarago's windscreen had been and saw that they were ok as he said, "I've called for the cops and ambo's they will be here soon, do you need help getting out?"

Brian groaned as he moved finding his right shoulder was dislocated, he triggered the release on his seat belt and slumped onto the bent steering wheel, Wayne undid his belt shifted his feet onto the centre console and then slid out the front over the dash board and fell onto his knees on the road. The truckie helped him to his feet as Donny kneeling on the driver's side window behind the driver's seat began helping Shaun unlatch his belt that had jammed from the crash. He couldn't release the buckle and swore in frustration, Brian groaned and said, "Its ok Donny leave it if Shaun's ok, the police will be here soon they will get Shaun and I out, I can smell petrol fumes lad get yourself out through the windscreen if you can climb through."

Donny protested at leaving Shaun in the car but Brian insisted saying that he'd stay inside with Shaun until rescue arrived, Donny crawled over between the front seats and stepped out onto the road where Wayne steadied him. They limped to the roadside and sat on a fallen tree trunk lying in the grass, the traffic began to build up on both sides of the crash site as the narrow 2 laned highway was completely blocked. The stench of petrol grew as the Toyota and Range Rover leaked fuel and the gathering crowd of onlookers grew some even smoking cigarettes as they walked about peering into the wrecks.

Brian asked how the other driver was and the truckie told him the driver had been decapitated while the young lad beside him had put his head through the windscreen and was a hell of a mess. Brian sobbed in his chest saying, "Damn it I caused the accident."

The truckie jumped to his defence saying that no way did Brian cause the accident the 4wd had no right to try passing at that part of the road where visibility was limited and he obviously didn't check to see if there was oncoming traffic and in fact he had driven across unbroken double lines where he'd pulled out. They heard the wail of sirens coming and the truckie said, "Here come the police, we'll soon get you out of there."

The police, a fire truck and ambulance all arrived within minutes of one another, there were shouts of put out those cigarettes and one idiot dropped his onto the roadway where it rolled to the side igniting the fuel leaking from the 4wd, the petrol ignited and flames flashed along the rivulet of fuel up to the wrecked Range Rover, there was a loud WHOOMF! And the vehicle burst into flames as people scattered in all directions. The firemen grabbed extinguishers and began spraying foam onto the burning 4wd, as one of the policemen climbed into the overturned Toyota and helped Brian out into the arms of the ambulance paramedics, they then cut away Shaun's seat belt freeing him and he scrambled out followed by the police officer.

The conflagration was put out quickly and then while the medics worked on Brian the firemen began using the Jaws of Life to prise apart the crumpled smoking wreck and free the bodies inside. The mangled remains were laid out on the side of the road and Brian saw it was a man of unknown age as he was decapitated and a boy about 14, Brian threw up instantly when he saw the mess the boy's head was. The paramedics helped him to his feet then to the ambulance where they cleaned him up and settled him in the back under a thermal blanket to keep him warm, Wayne joined him saying, "I'll stay with the boys and we'll see you in the hospital in Eden Brian, don't worry I'll look after them."

He climbed out and the ambulance turned around and headed down the highway back towards Eden, Wayne walked to where Donny and Shaun sat hugging each other and sat beside them stretching his arm around them both. A policeman came across and asked if he could drive them back to Eden and they followed him to the patrol car and they climbed in and set off through the spectators as two tow trucks arrived to remove the wrecks.

They reached Eden after dark and the officer pulled up in the hospital emergency parking area escorting the boys inside where they asked after Brian and were shown through to the ward where Brian was seated waiting for them with his arm in a sling. They rushed to his side jabbering questions, Brian frowned and said, "Cool it guys, I'm ok. They have reset my shoulder and checked me out, I've got a couple of slightly fractured ribs but apart from those and bruises I'm ok."

Shaun hugged his dad making him wince as he pressed on the cracked ribs, the boy almost shouted, "Thank goodness your ok Dad, I've been worried all the way here."

The policeman asked if it would be ok to ask Brian questions about the crash and Brian nodded saying that it was fine. The officer began questioning him and filling out his report and once all the details were written down he thanked Brian telling him he certainly wasn't at fault as the other vehicle was totally in the wrong and he would inform the rental agency of the findings. He then stood up settled his heavy equipment belt on his hips and thanked Brian for his time. Brian thanked him for bringing the boys back and the man left the room.

They sat around discussing the accident and the two bodies they had seen removed from the wreck traumatised Shaun and Donny, Wayne sat between them an arm around each boy's shoulder comforting them. Brian could see by their reactions and the expression in their eyes that the boys were very upset much as they tried to hide their reactions. When the doctor came in Brian took him aside and asked if the hospital had a counsellor on staff, the doctor said they did and Brian asked if he could see the boys. The doctor looked at the two younger teens and nodded as he said he could see they were in shock still. Brian made an appointment for the next morning and the doctor said he could go back to the motel as long as he promised not to do anything strenuous with his arm.

They called a taxi and headed back to the motel after picking up a parcel of fish and chips on the way, the shop was about to close but the guy served them. They ate the meal in Brian and Wayne's room and both Shaun and Donny asked if they could sleep with Brian and Wayne. Brian agreed, to keep the boys happy and to stop them stressing out any more that night. They all stripped to their underwear and crawled tiredly into the huge bed; Shaun snuggled against Brian while Donny hugged Wayne tightly. They drifted off to sleep but in the early hours Shaun woke them all screaming, crying and thrashing about in the throes of a nightmare.

Brian hugged the writhing boy kissing him on the head until he awoke sobbing, Shaun gasped out that the boy killed in the crash was trying to drag him with him into the grave. Brian hugged him tight, wincing as his ribs hurt, caressing his hair and back reassuring the scared boy that it was just a nasty dream and he was safe in bed, he told Shaun he would hold him tight all night to make sure he was ok. They slowly drifted back to sleep and were undisturbed until morning. Next morning they awoke and showered and got ready to take Shaun and Donny into see the counsellor, they found the hire car company had dropped off a Falcon station wagon to replace the Toyota.

Wane drove to the hospital and they had breakfast in the cafeteria there before the counselling session began, the two lads went in to the room while Brian and Wayne waited outside watching TV in the waiting room. An hour later the boys came out red eyed and joined Brian and Wayne, Brian asked them if they were ok and both nodded saying that the session had helped them sort out their angst. They had a discussion about their stay in Eden and they agreed it was time to move on, as the bad luck seemed to be building while they stayed in the town.

Brian popped in to see the doctor who treated him last evening and he examined the cracked ribs and gave Brian the ok with reservations, warning him that he mustn't strain his body and must keep the tight bandaging around his rib cage for support. Brian thanked the doctor and told him the boys would be doing all the sail handling and he would simply steer the Wanderer when it was his watch. They left the hospital and headed back to the motel to pack their gear and pay the bill, they drove into town and began buying the supplies and stocking Wanderer for her next leg of the journey up to Sydney. The boys did all the carrying leaving Brian to doing the driving, which by the end of the task his shoulder and ribs were quite sore. They had a late lunch at Kim's where they said their farewells to everyone including Timmy who they had picked up to join them.

The late afternoon saw them on board the old ketch as they motored out into the bay, waving goodbye to their well-wishers gathered on the wharf and reporting their departure and destination to the Coast Guard station on the cliff overlooking the bay. Wanderer made a perfect picture as the sails were unfurled and she began to curtsey to the smooth swells sweeping into the bay from the Tasman Sea. Her navigation lights were switched on as she turned north outside the entrance and she sailed on into the deepening darkness of the night.

Brian was now in pain so he took a couple of painkillers prescribed by the doctor and relaxed in the cockpit while Wayne took over the helm. The night was dark no moon had risen and only the magical view of the stars lit the inky blackness and a passing container ship's lights reflected on the sea as she passed a couple of kilometres offshore. The boys lay about on deck enjoying the balmy evening as the yacht quietly cruised along on the gentle breeze only the lap of the small seas caressing her hull disturbed their reverie. Brian's breathing was short and sharp as his aching ribs forced him to take small breaths, Wayne looked across at him worriedly wishing he could ease his lover's pain.

He suggested Brian go below and stretch out on their bunk to rest and hopefully get some sleep. Brian agreed and tried to stand unassisted but his ribs sent arrows of pain zapping through him and he gasped and clutched his chest before dropping back on the cushions. Wayne decided that as it was a warm calm night maybe Brian could stretch out on the cockpit cushions with a blanket over him to keep off the night's dew. He asked Donny to go below and grab a blanket off the main bunk up forward, he bolted below and soon returned with a blanket that he tucked in around Brian's prone body. Brian thanked the lad and smiled tiredly, Donny went back to where Shaun lay naked on the cabin top.

He kissed his young mate and lay down beside him as they clasped hands and kissed again, their tongues entwined and writhing as they moaned into each other's mouth. Brian fell into a deep sleep as the painkillers took effect while Wayne steered the Wanderer on into the darkness. As the night progressed the boys went below as the damp salt air settled on the yacht, they asked Wayne if he needed them to relieve him during the night but Wayne shook his head and told them to get a good nights sleep.

As the yacht moved slowly on the air became misty as the humidity built in the early hours, a fog began to develop and the wind became fitful and unpredictable, causing the sails to flap idly as they filled and emptied of wind. Wanderer began to roll on the swells as she almost lost all way, her heavy old hull nearly becalmed Wayne switched on the radar to keep a lookout for shipping. He grabbed the spotlight and shone it high up the mainmast to ascertain her radar reflector was in place to ensure any ships could see it, as her wooden hull was almost invisible to radar beams. Wayne wondered how the English lads were going on the visit to Melbourne, he hoped they were having a great time down there as he'd given them the names of a few gay clubs, pubs and discos to go to. He knew they would be mobbed by the guys there as they were molten cute.

During the night Wayne heard the deep sounds of several ships' fog horns but luckily they all passed by invisible in the now thick fog, only their wakes rushed past the now stationary yacht causing her to curtsy as they passed under her hull. Wayne dozed on the cushions next to Brian after going below and dragging up a second blanket to keep the chill dank early morning air off his body.

Dawn came gently, a lightening in the mist as the sun crept above the ocean off her starboard side, Wayne awoke with a shiver and opened his tired eyes feeling as if sand had insinuated under his eyelids as he rubbed them. He sat up and stretched the kinks from his bones as he looked about the Wanderer's deck, moisture beaded on the polished varnished timbers and dripped from the rigging to the deck in little pattering splatters. The shrill lonely call of a sea gull penetrated the dull greyness as a bird called to its mates invisible to the yacht, a fish jumped somewhere close by with a watery splash as Wayne got stiffly to his feet and peered off into the opaqueness.

The scene was surreal it was as if they were lost in space alone and suspended in a huge grey glass bowl as the Wanderer rolled gently on the invisible swells. Wayne checked the radar and saw the return from the land on the scope off to the west and a vessel approaching from the north. It was too small to be a ship so Wayne reckoned it would be a trawler making its way home to Eden, he decided to start the diesel and get the Wanderer under way in case he needed to manoeuvre the yacht to avoid a collision. He grabbed the compressed air horn and let out a long blast into the fog in the hope the trawler would hear it, no answer so Wayne kept a sharp lookout ahead as the old ketch began to forge ahead.

To be continued...

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Posted: 06/29/07